65 per cent votes in first phase poll in Chhattisgarh

     Raipur, November 14, 2008: About 65 per cent voters today exercised their franchise in the first phase of poll in 39 constituencies of the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly.

     However, in 22 places the EVMs were looted by the Maoists, because of which those places would go for re-polling soon, Chief Electoral Officer Dr Alok Shukla told ChhattisgarhTopNews.Com this evening.

     By and large the voting was peaceful, Shukla said adding A CRPF Radio Operator Dharmendra Rai was killed in naxal firing in Korenar in Kanker district during polling.

       On the final figure of voting percentage, he said it would be known by tomorrow.

     Of the 39 seats went for poll today BJP had 28 MLAs and the rest by Congress and to attract the voters to its side the ruling party had changed the faces in 15 places.

     The naxalite-hit areas had registered low percentage of votes, Shukla said adding Bijapur was having about 25 per cent votes, when Kanker 45, Narayanpur 40, Dantewada 45 and in Bastar 55 per cent votes.

     Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon, Durg and Kawardha districts have registered above 60 per cent votes.